Bradford F. Kimball

Bradford F. Kimball, Jr., 75 years, born September 7, 1943, in Burlington, VT, and died, “going on to life triumphant,” on February 12, 2019, at Hudson Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, following a 3 month stay.  Brad lived most recently at 325 Northern Blvd., in Albany.  Brad was adopted on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1944, by Bradford F. Kimball, Sr. and Amelia M. Harris, and spent his boyhood at their family home on Bogart Ave., in Port Washington, Long Island.  Brad grew up spending summers at the family summer home on Grand View Mountain in North Woodstock, in the White Mountains of N.H., where he also attended, and later worked as a counselor, at Camp Mowglis on Newfound Lake.  Brad had to grow up quickly when his father died in 1963, during Brad’s senior year in high school, and when his mother had a heart attack that same day, leaving her unconscious for over 5 months.  Brad spent his young adulthood devotedly caring for his mother, and working a 27 year career managing the Village Shop furniture store in Slingerlands, N.Y., where he met many loyal clients and friends.  He was a congregant at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany for many years, and also a follower of Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Scientist faith.  Brad was a rarity among his generation of gay men -- one of the longer-time, lucky survivors of the first wave of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s.  After a career surrounded by the trappings of material wealth, and a mantra of “Go, Do, Have,” Brad turned to simplicity and minimalism in his mid-life.  He lived each day with gratitude, grace, and humor, frequently quoting old hymns & bible verses on one hand, and sharing bawdy jokes on the other.  He was a long-time singer with the 80-voice Mendelssohn Club of Albany, a lover of music, pipe organs, flowers, and travels to San Diego and St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as to furniture shows in High Point, N.C.  He loved visiting and introducing friends to Hildene in Manchester, VT; the Woodstock Inn, in Woodstock, VT.; The Red Lion Inn, in Stockbridge, MA.; and the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, N.H.  Brad laughed and lived a very full and generous life, donating his time since the mid 1990’s to community organizations, food kitchens for the homeless, help-lines assisting others living with HIV, reading in prisons, “ringing the bell” for the Salvation Army during the holidays, and volunteering at Ground Zero after the 9/11 tragedy.  A burial service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 11:00 am, at the cemetery in Woodstock, N.H., where Brad will be laid to rest with his parents.  Any friends who are able to attend are welcome to join.  Email markx@sbcglobal.net for details.  Remembrances may be left in the online guest book at www.CannonFuneral.com.  Donations in Brad’s memory may be made to the Mendelssohn Club of Albany, www.mendelssohn.org.  “Divine Love always has met, and always will meet, every human need.”  -- Mary Baker Eddy

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